Genetics

Study of heredity and variation in living organisms.

Advanced Topics

Population Genetics and Evolution

How Populations Change Over Time

Population genetics studies how gene frequencies change in groups of organisms over generations.

Key Concepts

  • Gene Pool: All the genes in a population.
  • Genetic Drift: Random changes in gene frequencies, especially in small populations.
  • Natural Selection: Traits that help survival become more common.

Evolution in Action

Over time, populations adapt to their environment, sometimes leading to new species.

Applications

  • Tracking the spread of diseases.
  • Conserving endangered species.
  • Understanding antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

The Big Picture

Population genetics connects the dots between genes, variation, evolution, and the diversity of life on Earth!

Examples

  • Antibiotic resistance spreads in bacteria populations due to natural selection.

  • Genetic drift causes rare traits to disappear in small island populations.

In a Nutshell

Population genetics explains how species adapt and evolve over time.